Phraya Nakhon Cave is one of the most popular day trips from Hua Hin. It is a huge cave, home to a royal Thai-style Pavilion, and impressive stalactites and stalagmites. In addition to the cave, the area is also a great destination for outdoor activities such as hiking and swimming.
I had a great day visiting Phraya Nakhon Cave from Hua Hin on a rental scooter. In this article, I will share with you how to get to the cave, things to do, and where to stay near the cave.
For more information about Hua Hin, you can check these articles:
- Where to Stay in Hua Hin
- Top 26 Things to Do in Hua Hin
- 4-5 Days In Hua Hin Itinerary
- How to get to Hua Hin & Get Around
Where is Phraya Nakhon Cave?
Phraya Nakhon Cave is located in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, 50 km south of Hua Hin. It will take from 45-60 minutes to drive from Hua Hin City Center to the entrance of the cave.
The entrance to the cave is located in Bang Pu Village, at the southern end of Bang Pu Beach. From the entrance, you can reach the cave on foot by hiking the two mountains within 1 hour. Another way is to take a boat to Laem Sala Beach then hike for 40 minutes to reach the cave.
Basic information about Phraya Nakhon Cave:
| Location | Inside Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, around 50km south of Hua Hin. |
| Opening Hours | 8am to 3.30pm everyday |
| Entrance Fee | 200 baht for foreigners, 40 baht for Thais |
| Duration | Half to Full day (4-5 hours explore the cave area, 1 hour drive from Hua Hin to the cave, 1 hour drive back) |
| Things to do | Hiking, Swimming, exploring the cave |
| Best Time to visit | 10am -11 am from November to February |
How to get to Phraya Nakhon Cave from Hua Hin?
To reach the Cave, you need to get to the “Phraya Nakhon Cave Ticket Entrance” first. This entrance is located next to Bang Pu Beach. From the entrance you can use the combination of boat + hike or hike all the way to the cave.
I get to the entrance of Phraya Nakhon Cave by a rental scooter. If you don’t drive, you can consider taking a guided tour, or hire a private driver for a few hours. It is 50 km from Hua Hin to the cave, so it is best to arrange transportation both ways in advance.
Rent a scooter
Renting a scooter is the cheapest way to travel around Hua Hin and visit Phraya Nakhon Cave. You can rent a scooter in Hua Hin City Center for around 200-300 baht per day and you can visit many places within a day.
The road from Hua Hin Beach to Phraya Nakhon Cave is in good condition. You will drive most of the time on the highway, including highway 4, 1020, and 4020. You can consider detouring to the Beach Road for more beautiful scenery.
The Beach Road is a 12 km long road running parallel with the beach, stretching all the way from Pranburi Beach to Sam Roi Yot Beach. You can stop for a quick look at Khao Kalok Beach and its viewpoint along the drive.
Hire a private driver
Hiring a driver is a great option to visit Phraya Nakhon Cave from Hua Hin. The price can be around 1500-2000 baht for the round trip. The driver will drive you to the entrance of the cave, waiting for you for exploration, and drive you back to Hua Hin.
Take a guided tour
You can consider taking a group tour. The tour will include all transportation options, boat ticket, cave ticket, and lunch. The full day tour is around 7 hours. It often includes a boat from Bang Pu Beach to Laem Sala Beach, then from there you can hike up to Phraya Nakhon Cave.
You can easily book tours from online travel websites such as viator, klook, or GetYourGuide. These are safe platforms to book tours and tickets.
Best time to visit Phraya Nakhon Cave
You can visit Phraya Nakhon Cave anytime of the year but the best month is in the dry season from November to February. The weather is good at this period with less rain, which is ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and taking the boat ride.
The best time of the day to explore the cave is between 10am to 11am. This time has the best sun rays. The sunlight streams through the hole in the ceiling of the cave, casting a golden glow on the pavilion. You can start at the entrance around 9-10pm, then reach the cave within 1 hour hiking.
What to do at Phraya Nakhon Cave?
There is a range of attractions and activities to do in and around Phraya Nakhon Cave. In addition to the cave itself, you can hike, take a boat ride, swim at Laem Sala Beach, have meals or go shopping at the entrance of the cave.
Hiking
If you love hiking, you can consider hiking all the way from the ticket counter to Phraya Nakhon Cave. It is a 2km long trail with rocky paths in forested areas. The hike is moderate to challenging, so make sure you’re fit to do it.
You need to hike over two mountains. The first mountain is from the ticket counter to Laem Sala Beach, and the second mountain is from Laem Sala Beach to the top (around 430 m) where the cave is located.
The total hike is around 1-2 hours depending on your fitness level. I did the first trail within 20 minutes and the second trail within 30 minutes. Both trails have viewpoints along the way where you can enjoy stunning views of the Gulf of Thailand.
There are monkeys roaming around the last part of the first trail. Make sure to take care of your belongings and food to avoid having them stolen.
The second trail is more challenging than the first trail with steeper sections. There are many sharp and worn-down, slippery limestone rocks along the trail, so be sure to watch your step and wear sturdy walking shoes.
You can skip the first trail by taking the boat ride from Bang Pu Beach near the ticket counter to Laem Sala Beach, then hike the second trail. You can’t skip the second trail because it is the only way to reach the cave.
Taking the boat ride
You can consider taking the boat ride from Bang Pu Beach to Laem Sala Beach. This is a good way to avoid hiking the first trail to the cave. The ride is around 5 minutes. The cost is 400 baht for a private boat round trip.
You can try taking the boat ride one way and hiking back to experience both routes. The hike is around 20 minutes and is free. This trail has stunning views of Bang Pu Beach and Laem Sala Beach.
The boat only runs when the beach is in good condition. It does not run when the tide is high and the waves are rough.
Swimming at Laem Sala Beach
Laem Sala Beach is located midway on the trail from the entrance area to Phraya Nakhon Cave. It is a long sandy beach and the connecting point between trail 1 and trail 2.
You can chill at the beach, take the long walk, and enjoy stunning views of the islands in front of it. If the waves are not too rough, you can swim.
There are lots of shades as well as several tables and chairs along the beach shore. This area is also home to a restaurant where you can eat. There is also a toilet here.
Phraya Nakhon Cave and Kuha Karuhas Pavilion
Phraya Nakhon Cave is a huge cave system with two chambers linked by a wooden bridge. There is a royal Pavillion (Kuha Karuhas Pavilion) inside the main cave. The cave was visited by several Thailand’s Kings.
Both chambers have a hole on their roofs. If you are visiting during mid day, you can see the sun rays shine down directly from a hole on its roof to the Royal Pavilion, creating a breathtaking view.
You can spend 30 minutes to 1.5 hours wandering around the cave, taking photos, and admiring its beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
Facilities in Phraya Nakhon Cave
The Parking Area
The parking area is large. It is located before the ticket counter, Bang Pu Beach, and the restaurant area. If you come with a motorbike, you will need to pay a 10 baht parking fee. For the car parking, it cost 20 baht.
Restaurant and shop areas
There are a range of restaurants and souvenir shops near the parking and ticket counter area. You can enjoy the meals at one of the restaurants with views of Bang Pu Beach before or after hiking. I was hungry when I arrived, so I had prawn fried rice before my hike.
You can find a restaurant when reaching Laem Sala Beach. There are paid toilets at the beginning of the trail near the ticket counter and the free toilets at the Laem Sala Beach area.
Other things to do near Phraya Nakhon Cave
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
There are several other attractions within Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, where Phraya Nakhon Cave is located. You can check out Sam Phraya Beach, Sai cave, Khao Daeng viewpoint, Kaeo Cave, and take the boat trip along Kah Daeng Canal.
If you have a full day at Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, I recommend visiting Phraya Nakhon Cave in the early morning, then afternoon taking the boat trip along Khlong Khao Daeng exploring the mangrove forest, then head to its headquarter exploring the Bueng Bua marsh boardwalk and Bueng Bua tower.
Khao Kalok Beach and Viewpoint
This is a good stop located on the way from Hua Hin to Phraya Nakhon Cave. The beach has a quiet atmosphere and is a great place for chilling and swimming. You can do a little hike to its viewpoint and visit the more secluded Khung Sai beach.
Kui Buri National Park
This national park is known for its wild elephants and is one of the best places in Thailand to spot these animals in the wild. I had the chance to spot wild elephants at Khao Yai National Park, and I highly recommend it if you haven’t seen wild elephants anywhere else in Thailand.
Kui Buri National Park is located around an hour drive from Phraya Nakhon Cave. Lots of tours to Phraya Nakhon Cave offer a visit to Kui Buri National Park to see the elephants.
You can consider taking tours that combine these two attractions within a day. The park is only open from 2pm to 5pm and you need to hire a guide with a driver to explore the park, if you are not taking a tour.
Where to stay at Phraya Nakhon Cave?
There are several accommodations in the Bang Pu Village where Phraya Nakhon Cave is located. You consider staying near a beach town called Sam Roi Yot Beach. It is a good base for exploring the beaches and nearby national parks like Khao Sam Roi Yot and Kui Buri.
Here are some good places to stay near Phraya Nakhon Cave:
The Green Beach Resort
This is a good beachfront resort, located close to Sam Roi Yod Beach, and is a 15 minute drive from Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park.
The resort has a large outdoor swimming pool, tour desk, and a wide range of dishes in thor buffet breakfast. You can use it as a base to explore the attractions in Sam Roi Yot and Kui Buri national parks.
Dolphin Bay Beach Resort
This is a popular beach resort on Sam Roi Yod Beach. The resort has a couple of swimming pools, as well as a fitness center and a spa. It is a great base to relax and explore the surrounding national parks.
La Isla Pranburi Beach Resort
This accommodation is located at the northern end of Bang Pu Beach, next to Khao Sam Roi Yot national park, in beautiful surrounding areas. It is a 5 minutes drive from Phraya Nakhon Cave. It is also a good place to chill and unwind.
So there you have it, my travel guide about Phraya Nakhon Cave, a popular day trip from Hua Hin. By now, you should know how to get to and what to do at the cave. You can easily explore the cave by yourself without a guide as I did. I saw both old people and small children on the trail.